If I _______ harder, I would pass the exam. A. study B. studied C. have studied D. studying

The correct answer is:

B. studied

Explanation:

This sentence is a second conditional (unreal or hypothetical situation in the present/future). The structure is:

• If + past simple, would + base verb.

Example:

• If I studied harder, I would pass the exam. (But in reality, I am not studying hard enough now.)

Why not the other options?

• A. study → Incorrect. First conditional requires "If + present simple," but the result clause would need "will" (e.g., If I study, I will pass).
• C. have studied → Incorrect. This is past perfect, used in third conditionals (e.g., If I had studied, I would have passed).
• D. studying → Incorrect. Continuous form doesn’t fit the conditional structure here.